8-day Sierra de Guara Walking Holiday

Arrival in Alquézar, a picturesque hilltop village (Al Qasr, ‘the castle’ in Arabic) surrounded by terraced farms and irrigations channels. The rich local architecture represents both Moorish and Christian pasts. If you arrive early in the day, you’ll have a chance to do a circular walk which takes in this lovely village and the spectacular Rio Vero gorge.

Challenge: 3 km, 130 m in ascent/descent; 1 hr

On your first day of walking, you can chose between two routes. The shortest descents into the Rio Vero gorge, crossing a Romanesque bridge and a dry riverbed before you return via the village of Asque. The longer route takes you to prehistoric sites with cave paintings. Lovely views of the surrounding countryside with the Pyrenees in the distance.

Challenge: 4.5 -6 hrs 10 / 12 km; 470 m ascent / 785 m descent 

Varied and scenic walk along gravel roads and dirt tracks, providing magnificent views across Alquézar and the flat countryside at the feet of the Sierra de Guara. Some surfaced sections as you cross small villages where there might be a bar open. At the end of the day there will be a cool drink for sure and the luxury of a private swimming pool in the garden of your welcoming rural hotel in Bierge.

Challenge: 12 km, 400 m ascent; 465 descent; 4,5 hrs.

After a short drive to the isolated church of San Roman you walk through an ancient landscape of terraced fields and almonds grove to the village of Morrano before descending to a beautiful bathing spot at the river Peonera. Cristal clear and turquoise water invites you in, before crossing the river with the help of some stepstones. On your way back to Bierge you follow wide gravel tracks along the ridge and past the natural swimming pools of the Salto de Bierge

Challenge: 12.5 km, 540 m ascent, 645 m descent; 5-5,5 hrs 

Today you first walk past a geological master piece known as El Huevo de Morrano (Morrano’s Egg), pearched high above the Arcanadre gorge, that you will follow North today until you finally will find  abridge to cross it just after the beautiful village of Pedruel. A short section on a quiet tarmac lane awaits before you reach your welcoming hotel in Las Almunias; again with swimming pool.

Challenge: 13.3 km, 600 m ascent; 630 descent; 5,5 – 6 hrs

Today’s route follows an old charcoal makers’ path through scenery which offers a glimpse of yet another facet of the Sierra de Guara and its many landscapes. Splendid views from the edge of Balcez gorge, a perfect place to stop for lunch while you watch the vultures soar above the valley, with the summits of the Pyrenees on the horizon. 

Challenge: 11 km, 650 m ascent; 700 m descent, 5,5 hrs

The walk from Las Almunias back to Radiquero is long but very rewarding as you will travers one of the most beautiful gorges of the Sierra de Guara, along a clear path in gradual ascend. You pass spots with intriguing place names, such as Tranco de Olas (Step of the Waves) and Puente de Brujas (Witches’ Bridge) before you reach the hilltop chapel Ermita de la Virgen de la Viña. During the last section downhill to Radiquero you follow old footpaths through woods, fields and some vineyards.  At the end of the day a taxi will take you back to your hotel in Alquézar.

Challenge: 15 km, 675m ascent, 760 m, 6,5 – 7 hrs

If you find this walk to challenging, you can travel in the morning with the luggage to Alquezar and do one of the loop walks you didn’t do on your 2nd day in Alquezar; or just relax by the pool